VA to Encrypt All Computers

Through a contract with SMS, the department plans to install GuardianEdge encryption on all agency laptops.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced a plan to encrypt critical data on every laptop computer in the agency within the next month.

According to a release provided to eWEEK by spokesperson Matthew Burns, VA Secretary James Nicholson is announcing a new data security program that will begin immediately.

"I have promised America's veterans that I intend to make VA information security a model of data security, and this expedited encryption program is a major step in that direction," Nicholson said in a statement. "A system-wide encryption program will be a tremendous step forward in improving the safety and security of sensitive veteran information."

The implementation of the program, which will be performed by Systems Made Simple, based in Syracuse, N.Y., will begin with the VA's laptop computers. The company will use encryption from GuardianEdge for the laptops.

Final testing has already started on those machines, and the actual process of encryption will begin on August 18. The process is expected to be completed within one month, the statement said.

Once the laptop encryption is complete, the VA will begin encrypting its desktop computers using software from GuardianEdge and Trust Digital. Once that process is complete, SMS will begin encrypting servers and data centers.

According to the release, Secretary Nicholson has directed that advanced enterprise encryption solutions be considered for all VA computers.

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